When Leonard Lauder, son of Estee Lauder, founded Origins in 1990, his was the first prestige natural skincare brand to formulate products mindfully — something the brand continues to do.
Thirty years later the 100% vegetarian brand (which now also has a vegan range) still serves consumers who care about the wellbeing of people and planet. Its clean products combine high-potency naturals with advanced scientific research to address different skincare needs.
All ingredients are naturally derived and non-toxic and the range is free of parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, formaldehyde, mineral oil, petrolatum, paraffin, polyethylene beads and animal ingredients (other than the cruelty-free honey and beeswax).
This may be pretty mainstream now for many brands as consumers have become far more concerned with what they are putting on their skin and its impact on the planet, but when Lauder launched Origins as an “antidote to the excess of the 80s”, it was rare in its approach of eschewing animal products and testing, committing to a recycling programme and even allowing consumers to test a product before buying it.
The key franchises in the brand are Mega-Mushroom, GinZing and Plantscription.
Magic mushrooms
Dr Andrew Weil, a specialist in integrative medicine and the guru behind the Mega-Mushroom range, believes inflammation is the root cause of visible skin irritation and also believes mushrooms have the power to fight irritation. A key ingredient here is reishi – the so-called “mushroom of immortality” – which possesses powerful skin-soothing properties and helps boost skin’s resilience, while fermented Chaga is a potent skin soother. Favourite product: Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Advanced Face Serum packs a powerful punch. It’s the ultimate skin-loving soother.
Fresh-faced
GinZing is all about refreshing and restoring radiance to the skin. The patented Vital-Synthesis Technology harnesses the power of White Panax Ginseng and caffeine from coffee beans to boost fatigued and dehydrated skin. Favourite product: Ultra Hydrating Energy Boosting Cream – a deliciously rich but non-oily nourishing treatment that contains – wait for it – hydra hug technology, which helps bridge the gap between skin cells to ensure moisture is locked in. Now doesn’t that sound like skin comfort!
The giving tree
For the consumer concerned with ageing, Plantscription is the answer. It contains a smart ingredient from the bark of the African Anogeissus tree, which works to preserve fibrillin, an especially important component of firm, youthful skin. Favourite product: The Powerful Lifting Overnight Mask is luxurious and fast absorbing. Apply a fine layer before snooze-time and wake up to fuller-looking skin.
Let’s not forget the core ethos of Origins, which is to not cause damage to the earth. The brand goal is that at least 80% of its packaging by weight will be recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled or recoverable by 2023 (it’s currently at 55%), while the reforestation project has seen over 2.1 million trees planted around the world. Origins uses 100% renewable electricity to manufacture products in primary facilities and has zero-industrial waste-to-landfill for all global manufacturing and distribution sites.
Origins is available at selected Edgars stores.
